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Won By the Sword : a tale of the Thirty Years' War by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
page 267 of 448 (59%)
will place itself under the orders of Marshal Turenne.

He added his signature, and handed the paper to Hector.

"That counts for nothing," he said. "You must remember that life
is short and, especially in the case of a minister of France,
uncertain. In your own case you might be disabled in the field and
unable to serve further. The advent of a party hostile to me in
power would doubtless be signalized by acts of vengeance against
those who have been friends, and estates change hands so frequently
in France that la Villar might well be confiscated. No man is
above the chances of fortune. I have agents in England, and have
this morning given an order to my intendant to place in the hands
of Monsieur Wilson, a well known citizen of London, a goldsmith,
the sum of fifty thousand crowns to stand in your name, and to be
payable to your order. Here is his address. It is but a small sum
for the saving of my life, but it will place you above the risk of
the contingencies of fortune in this country. I wish for no thanks,"
he said, with a wave of his hand as Hector was about to speak. "I
have given more for the most trifling favours. I now bid you adieu,
and doubt not that I shall hear that you and your regiment have
greatly distinguished yourselves in the east, where hostilities
will in all probability shortly be commenced. You had better
present yourself at the levee this evening to make your adieus to
the queen."

This Hector did, and early the next morning rode with his two
companies to St. Denis, where the news that the regiment was to
march towards the Rhine was received with great satisfaction. It
was now the middle of October, and when, after ten days' march,
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